Drilling fluid is the blood of the well and the success of a drilling operation is closely

related with its efficiency. Access to deeper oil and gas reservoirs in hostile HTHP

environments, necessitates improvement of existing drilling fluids [1]. Nanomaterials can

play a vital role in the development of smart drilling fluids [2,3]. The key challenge in

developing such fluids is to maintain stable rheological properties and filter cake

characteristics at harsh environments. The required low concentrations of nanoparticles in

the drilling fluid systems provide a base for more efficient, costless and environmental

friendly drilling practices.

This publication was made possible by the NPRP award [NPRP 6 - 127 - 2 - 050] from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of The Qatar Foundation). The statements made herein are solely the responsibility of the authors.

Zisis Vryzas, Prof. Vassilios C. Kelessidis, TAMUQOmar Mahmoud, Prof. Nasr-El-Din Hisham, TAMU

Petroleum Engineering Department, Texas A&M University at Qatar

• Identify optimal concentration of nanoparticles (iron oxide-I.O & nanosilica).

• Rheological and fluid loss properties analysis at HTHP conditions.

• Microstructure examination of filter cakes with SEM technique.

• Assessment of stability of the suspensions with zeta potential measurements.

• Evaluation of the quality of the produced filtrate with Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) mass spectrometry.

Introduction Objectives

Experimental Methods & Results

Sample Preparation

Grace M3600 Viscometer Brookfield YR-1Rheometer

Conclusions• Nanoparticles have the potential to significantly improve fluid loss and

characteristics of the mudcakes.• Nanoparticles addition may not affect cost of drilling fluids due to low

optimal concentrations used (<1%).• Need for development of custom-made nanoparticles, which can lead to

further cost reduction with improved characteristics.• Commercial I.O nanoparticles available around $1000/kg.• Oil & Gas drilling fluids market to reach $12.31 billion by 2018 (Penn

Energy, 2015) providing strong push for the development of smart drillingfluids.

References

Rheology

OFITE HTHP Filter PressAnton Paar MCR 302Rheometer

OFITE LTLP Filter Press

Rheogram for base fluid + different % I.O nanos at 25.5˚C

Yield Stress Vs. Temperature for different % I.O nanos

Filtration Properties LTLP

Sample

%ironoxide(w/w)0% 0.5% 1.5% 2.5%

Filtrationvolumeat30min(ml) 10.9 9.8 9.1 8.7Uncertainty, (ml) ± 0.2 ± 0.2 ± 0.2 ± 0.2Fluidlossreduction % N/A 10.09 16.5 20.1

Volume Fluid Filtrate vs. Time at LTLP

Filtration Properties HTHP

Images of filter cakes formed from base fluid (left) and with addition 0.5 wt.% I.O nanoparticles (right) at 300 psi and 250˚F of filter press

SEM Analysis EDS Analysis

ICP-MS Analysis

ICP element cumulative filtrate fluids: (1) base fluid, at concentration analysis of the and (2) addition of 0.5 wt.% I.O nanoparticlesat 300 psi and 250˚F

Zeta Potential

SEM images at 200 µm magnification (up) and at 30 µm magnification (down) for the surface of filter cakes formed by the base fluid (left) and with addition of I.O nanoparticles (right) at 300 psi and 250˚F

Ø Smoother filter cake surface because of nano additionEDS for the surface of filter cakes formed bybase fluid (up) and by addition 0.5 wt.% I.Onanos at 300 psi and 250˚F

Concentration ofIronoxide,wt.% Bentonite,g IronOxide,g

0.0 45.161 0.0000.5 45.405 3.2431.5 45.901 9.8362.5 46.408 16.574

Zeta Potential Analyzer (ZetaPALS) from Brookhaven Instruments Corporation

Samples after preparation. Left is the 0.1Wt%iron oxide nanoparticle in de-ionized water and right is the 0.1Wt% silica nanopowder in de-ionizedwater.

Zeta Potential of iron oxide suspensions at 25°C and 40°C

Zeta Potential of nanosilica suspensions at25°C and 35°C

[2] Y. Jung, M. Barry, J. Lee, P. Tran, Y. Soong, D. Martello, “Effect of Nanoparticle-Additives on the Rheological Properties of Clay-Based Fluids at High Temperature and High Pressure”. Paper AADE-11-NTCE-2 was presented at the AADE National Technical Conference and Exhibition, Houston, Texas, 12-14 April, 2011

S. Agarwal, L. Walker, D. Prieve, R. Gupta, “Using Nanoparticles and Nanofluids to TailorTransport Properties of Drilling Fluids for HTHP Operations”, AADE 2009-NTCE-18-05,AADE National Technical Conference and Exhibition, New Orleans, Louisiana, May 18-20,2009

[1]

[3]

Sample

%ironoxide(w/w)0% 0.5% 1.5% 2.5%

Filtrationvolumeat30min(ml) 12 6.9 9 11.9Uncertainty, (ml) ± 0.2 ± 0.2 ± 0.2 ± 0.2Fluidlossreduction % N/A 42.5 25 0.8

V.C. Kelessidis, M. Zografou, V. Chatzistamou, 2013. Optimization of drilling fluid rheological and fluid loss properties utilizing PHPA polymer, paper SPE 164351 presented at the Middle East Oil and Gas Show and Exhibition held in Manama, Bahrain, 10–13 March.

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ShearStress(Pa)

ShearRate(1/s)7%Bentonite 7%Bentonite,0.5%ironoxide

7%Bentonite,1.5%ironoxide 7%Bentonite,2.5%ironoxide

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YieldStress(Pa)

Temperature(˚C)

7%Bentonite 7%Bentonite+0.5%IronOxide

7%Bentonite+1.5%IronOxide 7%Bentonite+2%IronOxide

“Significant reductionofSiandAl”

STABLE

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